Management of Thrips on Cardamom

Abstract

Cardamom is popularly known as the ‘Queen of Spices’. The cardamom thrips is the most destructive and persistent pest of cardamom. Scabbing of capsules reduce the quality and quantity up to 80-90%. Such capsules have no export value, inferior in aroma, have lesser number of seeds, underdeveloped seeds and poor seed germination. A schedule of 4-9 sprays with insecticide groups like organo phosphates, synthetic pyrethroids, phenyl pyrazole and neonicotinoids are being recommended against the pest. However, cardamom thrips can be efficiently managed by the following integrated management tactics.